In this handout photo released by US Air Force, US Vice President Dick Cheney and the top US commander in Iraq David Petraeus talk at Baghdad airport, 17 Mar 2008

An explosion rocked Baghdad Monday as U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney arrived for an unannounced visit.

Few details have been released about the blast that occurred shortly after Cheney arrived today.

The vice president is expected to meet with Iraqi leaders and U.S. military officials while in Baghdad.

Cheney's stop in Iraq is part of a Middle East tour that will take him to Oman, Saudi Arabia, Israel, the West Bank and Turkey.

During his 10-day tour he will cover many issues, including advancing the Mideast peace process, the situations in Lebanon and Syria, Iran's rising influence in the region and soaring gasoline prices in the United States.

U.S. Senator and presidential candidate John McCain is also in Baghdad to meet with Iraqi and U.S. officials.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.